BOCA RATON, Fla. - UCF (30-20, 17-7) split a doubleheader against FAU (37-11, 20-4) on Saturday, but managed to take the weekend series two games to one. Late inning heroics proved to be the difference in game one, while a late-inning rally fell short in game two.
Bo Hall threw six complete innings, and his teammates rallied for six runs in the final three innings breaking a seventh inning tie to turn back FAU by a score of 7-5 in game one.
UCF came to bat in the top half of the seventh inning with the score tied at five and were able to scratch their way to a pair of runs to eek out the win. With one down in the top of the seventh, Jeremy Frost walked and would eventually advance to second on a single to center field by Jason Graham.
Ty Hanson was inserted as a pinch hitter and promptly singled, allowing Frost to score the go-ahead run from second. Graham, who made his way to third base on the Hanson single, would later come across the plate as an insurance run as Mike Myers added an RBI single.
Trailing 3-1 in the top of the fifth, UCF scored four runs to take a 4-3 advantage. Graham led the charge knocking in two RBI's in the Knights four-run fifth inning. Clay Timpner and Dee Brown started the scoring each contributing an RBI single. The Owls picked up two runs in the home-half of the inning after Jeff Fiorentino and Robert Orton each hit solo homeruns to knot the game at five.
Hall, who pitched six solid innings striking out six and yielding six hits, gave way to Zach Sutton in the seventh. Sutton gave up one hit induced two ground ball outs and struck out the final batter looking to end the game. With the win Hall moves to 6-0 on the season, while Sutton picked up his fifth save.
Chris Della Rocco took the loss for FAU and falls to 3-2 on the year. Orton led FAU offensively going 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored including the homerun.
The Knights were unable to complete the sweep as their late-inning rally fell short and they dropped a 1-0 decision in game two. UCF mustered only two hits until the seventh inning, but began to make some noise when Hanson singled to left center and Adam Miller sacrificed him to second. Wayne Summers was brought in to pinch run. Graham hit an infield single and UCF had runners on first and second. Blaine Schulte was brought in to pinch hit and singled to right. Summers was cut down at the plate trying to score, but Graham advanced to third on the play. The Knights would strand the tying run 90-feet away as David Mann hit into a fielder's choice to end the game.
This marks the fifth time the Knights have been shut out this season. The last time UCF was held scoreless was back on April 20 when they were defeated 4-0 by Jacksonville.
Lincoln Mincks went the distance on the hill for the Knights giving up one run on six hits and fanning seven. The loss puts him at 6-5 on the season.
Danny Core pitched a complete game shutout for the Owls, surrendering just five hits and striking out six. It was his seventh win of the year against two losses.
The Knights will be in action again next weekend when they travel to Georgia State for a three-game series. Game one will be Friday, May 10, with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
UCF Splits The Day, Takes Weekend Series From FAU
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